THE DIRGE.

To be said on the first day of every month, on Mondays in Advent and Lent, and on the anniversary of a friend's death. Evensong to be said also on the Eve.

Matins of the Dirge.

To be said or sung between the evensong of the Eve and Prime of the following day. Everything to be said as in the ordinary Matins, p. 138, till after the Venite, when the office shall proceed as follows. But if Matins of the Dirge be said immediately after Lauds of the day, then the office begins absolutely from the Antiphon.

Antiphon. I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord : in the land of the living.

PSALM V. Verba mea auribus.

PONDER my words, O Lord

my meditation.

: consider

O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer.

My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness: neither shall any evil dwell with thee.

Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight for thou hatest all them that work vanity.

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Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the Lord will abhor both the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

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But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy : and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies make thy way plain before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness.

Their throat is an open sepulchre : they flatter with their tongue.

Destroy thou them, O God, let them perish through their own imaginations: cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness, for they have rebelled against thee.

And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them, they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;

For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

L

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

PSALM XXVII. Dominus illuminatio.

HE Lord is my light, and my salvation,

the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh : they stumbled and fell.

Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require : even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle : yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.

And now shall he lift up mine head: above mine enemies round about me.

Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness: I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.

Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me, and

hear me.

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My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

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O hide not thou thy face from me : nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.

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Thou hast been my succour leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me the Lord taketh me up.

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Teach me thy way, O Lord and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and such as speak wrong.

I should utterly have fainted : but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

O tarry thou the Lord's leisure: be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart, and put thou thy trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end.

PSALM XLII. Quemadmodum.

Amen.

LIKE as the hart desireth the waterbrooks so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my meat day and night while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

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Now when I think thereupon, I pour out

my heart by myself: for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;

In the voice of praise and thanksgiving : among such as keep holy-day.

Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me?

Put thy trust in God: for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance. My God, my soul is vexed within me: therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon.

One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes: all thy waves and storms are gone over me.

:

The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the day-time and in the night-season did I sing of him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me : why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth;

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Namely, while they say daily unto me: Where is now thy God?

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Why art thou so vexed, O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me?

O put thy trust in God: for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.